 Good evening and welcome to tonight's meeting Before we start our meeting as we've always done we will continue the tradition our city clerk reads a quote for the week So madam city clerk. Thank you mayor Each new hour holds new changes for new beginnings the horizon leans forward offering you space to place new steps of change Thank you Call the first regular meeting of the Common Council order. Please call the roll boran Falk Sirta here Yasha Hannah here Heidemann Kittlesen Clayunas Manny here Meyer Montemay or Rindflash Ryan Vanderwheel for hassled and wongamon 16 present Cormes present next we have the presentation of the National Color Guards by the shabuigan police departments honor guard, please rise America Shoulder next we have the invocation by pastor Steve Peterson of the Zion Covenant Church pastor Peterson Let us bow in prayer Lord God We pray along with people all around this country in cities Towns and campuses For the students and faculty and staff at Virginia Tech Please send your comfort The families and friends who've lost loved ones in this tragedy Gracious God you have placed us here in shabuigan to live together in a community of peace We thank you now For those elected as older persons to lead and guide our city Grant to each older person your wisdom So that in their dedication There is a spirit of service in their debates and discussion a spirit of humility In their decision-making a spirit of unity Grant to mayor Perez the heart and soul of a diligent and understanding leader and As he and this common council work together moving forward Help them to serve the citizens of our fair city To this end we work and we pray with thanksgiving Amen Thank you, Reverend Peterson this time. We're going to have the swearing in of the city clerk elect I Susan Richards swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States Swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Wisconsin and the Constitution of the state of Wisconsin and will faithfully and impartially and will faithfully and impartially Discharge the duties discharge the duties of the office of city clerk of the office of city clerk to the best of my ability ability to the best of my ability so help me God so help me God and next we will have the serenade of the city attorney elect and our city clerk so Richard will return the favor would you raise your right hand and repeat after me I Steve McLean I Steve McLean swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Wisconsin and the Constitution of the state of Wisconsin and will faithfully and impartially and will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties discharge the duties of the office of city attorney of the office of city attorney to the best of my ability to the best of my ability so help me God so help me God congratulations and this time I would like I would ask that all the all of an elect please come up and be sworn in as close as you can here and will you all raise your right hand and repeat after me I please state your name swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Wisconsin and will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office of Alderperson to the best of my ability so help me God congratulations next in the order of business is the adopting the rules of the common counsel Alderman Hannah thank you I move that the rules which govern the proceeding counsel be accepted as the rules of this common counsel there's a motion to second any discussion there being none all those in favor say aye any opposed motion carries thank you next item will be the election of president and vice president of the common counsel Alderman Hannah thank you mr. mayor I move that the nominations be received from the floor voting be done by closed ballot and if more than two candidates are nominated the candidate with the lowest number of votes be dropped from the list and balloting continue into one candidate receives a majority is there a second motion and second any discussion there being on all those in favor say aye any opposed motion carries at this time we'll take nominations for president we've got Alderman kill sin win first thank you mr. mayor I would nominate Mark Hannah for president of the council there's nomination and second for Alderman Hannah next we have Alderman Montemayor thank you your honor I would nominate Alderman Bander wheel for president of the council is there a second to that there's a second to that any more nomination Alderman were hassled thank you thank you mr. chair I'd like to nominate Alderman Jim born for vice president of the council just president right now we're doing president right now okay we'll get to the vice after this are there any other nominations for president there being on Alderman Hannah after all nations all nominations are in we I move that nominations be closed is there a second motion and second to close nominations at this point we're going to tell all those all those in favor to close nominations say aye any opposed motion carries we will tell we will have the election the city attorney will be handing out ballots it says on there your signature and your vote is for with your signature would you please print your last name because it's impossible to read half of your signatures so just print your last name so we know sorry it'll go faster we had a difficult time last year yeah a little loud it's supposed to be a secret ballot to now funny to love to love to love your new president for the year 2007 2008 is Alderman Mark Hannah congratulations at this time we will take nominations for vice president Alderman were hassled now I would like to nominate Alderman Jim born for vice president of the council there's a motion second any other nominations or there any other nominations oh I'm sorry we'll take nominations be closed nominations there's a second to that all in favor say aye any opposed motion carries and now I need to make a motion that the city clerk be instructed to cast the unanimous ballot on behalf of Alderman person born there's motion second to instruct his city clerk to cast a unanimous ballot for Alderman born for vice president all those in favor say aye aye any opposed motion carries thank you at this point we will elect a representative on this to the city plan commission and Alderman Hannah I would nominate I'm sorry make a motion to receive nominations we're see I make a motion to receive nominee nominations for the representative of the city plan commission and that they be they be done by open ballot is may be done by open ballot and if more than two candidates are nominated the candidate with the lowest number of votes be dropped from the list and balloting can to continue until one candidate receives a majority is there a second motion in second all those in favor say aye any opposed motion carries at this time we'll take nominations Alderman many thank you I this time I do nominate Maryland Montemay or motion in second nominate Alderman Montemay or are there any other nominations are there any other nominations not Alderman Hannah I move that nominations be closed in the city clerk be instructed to cast unanimous ballot for all the person Montemay or is there a second second all those in favor say aye and you oppose motion carries congratulations Alderman Montemay or at this time we will elect one representative to the board of contractor examiners first and then we will elect two representatives on capital improvements commission Alderman Hannah I move the nominations we receive from the floor voting be done by open ballot and if more than two candidates are nominated the candidate with the lowest number of votes be dropped from the list and balloting continue to one candidate receives a majority is there a second second all in favor say aye any oppose motion carries we'll take nominations for board of contractors examiners Alderman Montemay or thank you your honor I would like to nominate Alderman Rintfleisch for board of contractors examiners there's a motion in the second were there any other nominations are there any other nominations there being on Alderman Hannah I move that the nominations be closed and that the city clerk be instructed to cast unanimous ballot for all the person Rintfleisch there's a motion a second any discussion on that there is not all those in favor say aye aye any oppose motion carries congratulations Alderman Rintfleisch Alderman Hannah we will now move on to two representatives on the capital improvements commission Alderman Hannah we'll now take nominations for after all shall I read the I move the nomination to receive from the floor voting be done by open ballot and if more than two candidates are nominated the candidate with the lowest number of votes be dropped from the list balloting to continue into one candidate receives the majority is there a second there's a second all in favor say aye any oppose motion carries I will now accept nominations for two positions to capital improvements commission on the capital improvements Alderman Montemay thank you your honor I would like to all to nominate Alderman Gisha and Alderman Rintfleisch motion second are there any other nominations Alderman Hannah I will nominate Alderperson Jean Kittleson to is one of them okay there's a is there a second to that second second are there any other nominations there being on Alderman Hannah I move that the nominations be closed is there a motion a second to close nominations all in favor say aye any opposed motion carries we will now have the election and on this ballot we'll have two spaces to mark two people of the three and the three people are Alderman Gisha Alderman Rintfleisch and Alderman Kittleson too high is what the two highest are elected we only get one ballot right you have one ballot you mark two people to the two highest both getters will become I will be elected okay Alderman you have elected Alderman Gisha and Alderman Rintfleisch just to represent you on the capital improvements commission congratulations at this time I'd asked for a motion to recess during which we the city clerk and I will leave and you will elect a president for the committee of the whole Alderman Hannah I'm going to recess to elect the chairman of the committee of the whole there's a motion and second all those in favor say aye any opposed motion carries we're in recess and we will leave here still on camera so put this on the move that nominations be received from the floor voting to be done by open ballot and if more than two candidates are nominated the candidate with the lowest number of votes be dropped from the list and balloting continue to one candidate receives the majority thank you we will now take nominations Alderperson thank you president Hannah I would like to nominate Alderman Vicki Meyer for committee of the whole chairman is there a second are there other nominations Alderperson sir thank you chair I'd like to nominate Alderperson Ryan are there additional nominations are there additional nominations I move that nominations be closed all in favor we're gonna pass out the ballots please print your last name thank you it's the mayor's speech I could move it I would move to reconvene and now I need to have the mayor and the city clerk come back and join us I'm supposed to wait till he's in ruins all the suspense I'd ask for motion to reconvene Alderman Hannah so moved motion second to reconvene all in favor say aye any opposed motion carries president Hannah mr. mayor gives me pleasure to announce that the community the whole chair is Alderperson Meyer at this time we will have a message by the president of the council president Hannah if you would please step up to the podium it's double space this will not take long thank you and I and I and I did want to second the kind words of the pastor about the concern for everybody for the students and the family at Virginia Tech and you put the mic closer sorry just a horrible tragedy well thank you all for this special opportunity we're all here to serve the citizens of Sheboygan and to the best of our abilities the council's collective success depends upon our ability to set aside personal agendas and work as a team this council can have a high level of achievement by working together out of the gate I will work hard to foster a collegial atmosphere among our extended team this is a talented group of dedicated elected officials and we combined with our experienced hard-working employees I have high expectations for success we need to focus our efforts on improving our ability to attract new business to our great city and foster growth among the existing corporate citizens we already have some exciting plans and ideas on the drawing board it is critical that we streamline our business attraction process to build on our tax base finally I'm looking forward to the challenge of improving our table of organization structure of the city through open and honest dialogue with all the stakeholders one of the many lessons that I learned while serving with Eric's father on the school board is that you need to give elected officials an opportunity to serve in a variety of capacities it's my intention to serve only one year as council president we have so many gifted and dedicated individuals on this council who deserve an opportunity to serve our city in a leadership capacity the citizens of district 7 willing I look forward to many years of service on the common council and I thank you all for this vote of confidence thank you thank you president Hannah next we have a committee of the whole chairpersons message all of them and Vicky please do all of them and Meyer well I want to thank you very much for having the trust and the faith in me to carry out this job as chairperson of committee of the whole we've faced a lot of challenges in the past two years we've been able to deliver quite a few things to our constituents we've come in with the zero base budget this past year we're building a police station at an affordable cost to our constituents and I know we have many challenges ahead of us and I know this council is going to work just wonderfully together and I just look forward to working with all of you and delivering to our constituents the promises that we've made and thank you for trusting me for this chairperson job thank you all of them Meyer at this time I'd like to address the council and the public good evening members of the common council people of Sheboygan city clerk Richards city attorney McLean and the public here tonight congratulations to our new alderman Alderman Bauch Alderman Gisha Alderman Heidemann Alderman Wagerman and Alderman Rinschleisch welcome to the team congratulations to our returning alderman Alderman Montemayor Alderman Verhassel and Alderman Meyer congratulations also to Sue Richards Steve McLean on their re-election welcome back to our team all of you the people of Sheboygan have placed their trust in you they elected you just as the rest of us were elected because they believe you are the best people to represent them although each of you represent a specific ward in a specific district please always be mindful that your vote impacts the entire city of Sheboygan and not just your district you are the person to represent all of the people you have been chosen to be the leaders of this community we lead not just for today but also for the future we lead not just for ourselves but also for our children and our grandchildren we represent interest bigger than our own we are the new Common Council we have a new year ahead of us filled with new hopes and challenges I have faith that it will be a positive year I'm very excited about the bright future of Sheboygan I am proud of all we have accomplished and all we will accomplish together in order to make life better and more enjoyable for our citizens one can feel a renewed sense of ownership and pride in our beautiful city Sheboygan is a vibrant and progressive community moving forward with the times yet maintaining its good old hometown flavor throughout the city you see an incredible amount of view development in the city's business center jail French and Turkey company coffee company undertook significant expansion projects superior seamless rain gutter company and air guess company will be building in our business center soon Nemshoff Industries expanded their facility at an estimated cost of three million dollars also the City Plan Commission approved numerous commercial business and industrial development or expansion projects we will soon have Starbucks on 14th and Erie and three retail businesses businesses at Washington Square we currently have a new three-story building on Colorado Memorial Drive we have bad bath and beyond at Memorial Mall several new medical office buildings including Campbell and Tasha on Taylor Drive Great Lakes physical therapy at Superior Avenue and Lakeshore Mental Health also at Superior Avenue our river front district continues to grow due to the development at South Pier the Duke of Devon restaurant open in nature's best and well center expanded their businesses to the Highland House restaurant will soon be open the rice building condominiums will soon be completed the redevelopment authority has approved several developments in the South Pier the Paul Wiese condominiums at the Green Warehouse side are also under construction also the Morningstar condominiums at the old Oppenberg side continue to prepare for construction the landmark square apartments were recently destroyed by a devastating fire but it will be rebuilt and we will once again have that magnificent building in our downtown again additionally the capsule building will soon be rehabilitated for new business uses the Lakeland condominiums on 14th and Alabama are almost complete the city's 48 lots Northfield Meadow subdivision continues to progress as anticipated Werner Homes will soon be building 120 single-family homes on the south side on land the city owned and sold to Werner Homes also North Taylor Point condominium will soon start construction at the end of North Taylor Drive it is anticipated that all this development will add to the tax base approximately 200 million dollars the real message embedded in all this development is that your tax rate should go down and there are beautiful city of Sheboygan is a great place to build live and raise a family people have pride in Sheboygan recently we were awarded the National Phoenix Award as a community impact winner for South Pier District today we were awarded the American Planet Associations Award for the best use of technology to plan for natural disaster prevention or recovery people are also proud of our clean city initiative the program is a good program and has been embraced by our citizens we have taken care of 1086 nuisance complaints since it began we will continue to promote clean yards and clean streets I ask our residents to continue their cooperation and help keep our city looking great people are also exceptionally pleased with our new and vibrant tourism division word is going out near and far of the remarkable activities and the beautiful places we have to offer as we share our city with our neighbors and visitors our local businesses benefit from their patronage we benefit because the world knows Sheboygan is a place to be from an engineering standpoint and careful planning and capitalization last year we worked on sidewalks to improve its aesthetics and safety we also work diligently on a resurfacing street program Washington Avenue resurfacing the PCC resurfacing program seawall construction project South Pier sidewalk and lots project comfort station project South Pier stockpile removal project and the splash pad project at end part we wisely invested approximately eight and a half million dollars to make our quality of life better this year we responded to the people's plea for tax relief as a council and within the capacity of our jurisdiction we did our share we had a zero percent increase in the levy but not by not increasing our expenditure from the prior year we saved the taxpayers dollar we save the taxpayer approximately 1.8 million dollars also the stormwater tax and the wheel tax were eliminated resulted in taxpayer savings of about one million seven hundred dollars additionally we adjusted the price of a new police station from 13 million to nine million dollars all this accounts for over eight million dollars of savings to the taxpayer more good news is the fact that we will begin construction of our new police station late this summer for nearly 50 years the new police station has been analyzed debated cost out wish for very soon our police officer will have a state of the arts police station at an affordable price to the taxpayer our police officers need not wait anymore this council has made it happen but let me talk about the future as a team we will continue our aggressive street repair and reconstruction program we will continue our sidewalk improvement program we will continue aggressively aggressively developing south pier and other development projects we will continue our comprehensive engineering plan we will continue to do all those things that improve the quality of life in sheboygan and we will continue to be fiscally responsible and responsive to the taxpayer our job is all about the taxpayer it's about our senior citizens who love sheboygan have done their share to make the city great and want to simply be able to afford to live here it's about our citizens who love sheboygan and work hard to provide for their families and simply want to be able to afford to live here our challenge our biggest challenge is the budget our annual expenditures far exceed our revenues we must always remember that the people have told us have told us plainly and quite frequently that we must carefully and creatively balance the services they need against their ability to pay for that reason I will once again ask the common council to pass a 0% increase in the levy for 2008 we will do our share to provide the tax release our citizen are asking for and tonight we challenge the other tax and jurisdictions to do the same it is important for our citizens to know that the city is only one of six entities the levy attacks against our hard-earned dollars the school district and the recreation department account for 38% of every tax dollar the county accounts for 22% late short technical college accounts for 6% of every tax dollar and the state accounts for 1% and finally the city accounts for only 33% of every tax dollar when this many taxing entities are taxing our citizens it's easy for our efforts to go unnoticed and perhaps at times unappreciated but we must stay the course and continue to be responsive to the people's plea for tax relief we are simply going to have to look for creative ways to make city government more efficient and more cost-effective that may require departmental adjustments sacrifices or new management plans our table of organization must be carefully scrutinized for possible cost savings and initiatives and in efficiencies all in all the way we do business in general must be critically analyzed in the face of facial constraints I ask you to work with me with no obligation to any interest group but the taxpayer recently I heard someone say the only interest group that really matters is a taxpayer folks I truly believe that I never want to forget whom I work for I never want to forget the people that elected me to do a job they trusted me to do I never want to forget the people who were struggling to make ends meet and look to us for some relief I will be their champion and I am not going to let them down Alderman I know you will too and finally good honest hard work is ahead of us I ask that God gives us strength to do what the people need us to do thank you have a good night moving on mayor's appointments attorney with me thank you your honor to the honorable members of the Common Council hereby submit the following appointments for your confirmation the finance committee Mar canna chairman james boran vice chairman clayunas balk and geisha public protection and safety committee silas van der wheel chairman eric rinfly vice chairman ryan serda and kittleson public works committee vicki meyer chairman joseph heidemann vice chairman ryan mani and montemayor salary and grievances daniel verhasel chairman maryland montemayor vice chairman heidemann geisha and meyer law and licensing committee james boran chairman bill wangaman vice chairman clayunas mani and rinfly signed by the mayor those will lie over and alderperson mariland montemayor to be considered for appointment to the library board to fill the unexpired term of alderman gene davis whose term expires 430-09 and janet carter to be considered for appointment to the commission on aging to fill the unexpired term of dustin havens whose term expires 430-2010 signed by the mayor and those appointments will lie over and then finally i believe all the alderman have a packet that's eight pages long consisting of the mayor's appointments to the various boards commissions committees and so forth and those appointments will lie over to please please note on your agenda that the next common council meeting is on the 23rd it's coming monday at 6 30 p.m. the general order of business to confirm appointments thank you turn McLean i'm sorry 6 30 we take pictures so dress up and at 7 we start the meeting corrected please public forum there is none no public forum next item and final item would be resolution introduced 3 1 1 by alderman serda requesting the mayor to reactivate various special committees for the 2007 08 council year okay you got alderman serda thank you honor i move that the resolution be put upon its passage motion and second under discussion there being a lot of many thank you honor we do need to delete the short-term committee on employee remuneration we are done with our work i believe would you like to include that in your motion yes your honor and who's second then included in the motion okay reactivating all committees as list as listed with the exception employee remuneration committee any further discussion there being on all those in favor say aye any opposed motion carries motion to adjourn in second all in favor say aye we stand adjourned